Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda York.
Brenda, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Brenda York has always been drawn to the potential of stories and many of her paintings are accompanied by short stories written by the artist. Sans words, the magical aspects within her characters’ color, texture, and physicality are enough to conjure a quirky narrative force. Her characters could easily belong to fables or fairy tales.
Those who encounter York’s work would not be surprised to learn that the artist spent some time illustrating children’s books. The whimsical figures that populate her canvases are rendered with the same joyful disregard for reality seen in juvenile literature.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I make paintings of whimsical abstract figures. I am drawn to narrative work—I love a good story! When it’s time to paint—I am usually working on several canvases at the same time; they are gessoed with black gesso, then collaged with collected papers and ephemera. I then “draw” the image with either red acrylic paint or red oil bar. Then many layers of paint are applied—either oil or acrylic—I use both. I like to use a dry brush technique in the last stages of a painting in order to allow the colors underneath to show through. The final step is the drawing on top of the painted surface. I use charcoal, graphite or I scratch into the paint surface. I love this part—it’s usually the lyrics to the music I’m listening to in the studio, a tic-tac-toe game with no winner, fantasy algebra equations and symbols that I consider my personal visual language.
What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
Real success is the process, not the product. It’s the art we would make if no one was looking. I think if an artist can consistently go to the studio, make the work and quiet the nasty little voices stirring up the self-doubt—that is success. Of course, it’s also nice if your art pays the rent.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
http://www.brendayork.com/home
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.brendayork.com/home
- Email: brendayork.art@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendayorkart/
Image Credit:
All photos by Brenda York
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